Hi friend,
As you’re getting this email, I’m on a train to New York City.
I’m headed to Attentive’s inaugural Thread 2022 conference to learn all about conversational commerce and network with some incredible marketers.
But it got me thinking about where we all are when we come together for this one message each day.
Maybe you’re reading this with your morning coffee in front of your kitchen window.
Maybe you’re scrolling through after you just caught the bus you thought you’d miss.
Maybe you’re reading this a month from when this was originally published.
Maybe you’re just skimming this intro before you hit “delete” (no judgment).
Wherever this message finds you today, I hope you make the rest of the day a good one.
I hope you know there’s a group of us all together reading this right now, trying our best to continue on.
with warmth + love,
N
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📚 The Click Throughs
Long-form reads for the marketing geek + content creator
The New York Times: Hurricane Ian Brings Wind, Rain and TikTok Followers
Why is it that when devastation hits the internet’s curiosity piques? In so many moments we’ve seen over the past few years, accounts across the internet who broadcast such tough moments have grown in views, followers, and likes. The same happened last week with Hurricane Ian in Florida and Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico.
Note: Many people in Florida and Puerto Rico are still recovering from the hurricane and will be for some time. If you’d like to support relief efforts, here’s a comprehensive list of official organizations to donate to.
Wired: The High Cost of Living Your Life Online
We’ve normalized posting online. It’s normal to see every meal of someone’s day or to see what they’re working on. As the article starts, “To be online is to be constantly exposed.” But when we step back and really think about how that erodes our mental sense of security and privacy, what are we left with?
Eater: The Great Food Instagram Vibe Shift
Just like the millennial pink + filtered aesthetic that once ran Instagram, the foodies are changing it up. Food creators are shifting to create more raw, less staged looking content. Brb, my stomach is rumbling just looking at these posts.
Banknotes: Chipotle’s Neiv Toledano on their partnership with ‘Corn Kid’
Speaking of food, my brilliant friend Jayde Powell interviewed the Chipotle social media manager behind the brand’s iconic use of the TikTok corn kid, Tariq, in their content. Brands looking to jump on cultural trends in an authentic way, take note.
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🧘🏼♀️ Mindful Moment
One actionable thing to get you through this week
Let’s take a moment for a classic breathing exercise. Do this one as long as you’d like, but I recommend trying it at least for one minute (you can do it!):
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🔗 Link(s) in Bio
Things I’ve been loving that have absolutely nothing to do with marketing or business
Rolling Stone: Stop Thirsting After Serial Killers – Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with serial killers and swooning after them? I blame Zac Efron as Ted Bundy.
Wondermind: How to Break Out of the Social Media Comparison Trap – This newsletter was started because I hated when people said you had to log off to find mental peace on social media. This article covers some of the same grievances + actionable tips on what you can do.
LitHub: Generation Amazing!!! How We’re Draining Language of Its Power – This article argues that our uses of excited dialogue has diminished the value of the words. Is it accurate? Yeah, probably. Am I still going to overly use the word “Amazing!”? Yeah, probably.
WorkLife: In the WFH era, why shows about the office are more popular than ever – Reading this right before turning on an episode of Superstore which isn’t technically an office show.
The Cut: How Can I Learn to Be More Present – Sharing this article just for these lines in the last paragraph: “Don’t spend too much time worrying that you’re not savoring things enough or that you’re missing out on the flowers. There will be more flowers.”
Wall Street Journal: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Slamming Energy Drinks – I know this one is totally out of the norm but I feel like I’m the only person I know that hasn’t had a Celsius or Alani Nu. (Quite the opposite actually, I’m going decaf.)
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💭 Content Calendar
Ideas for you to take into your week ahead as a content creator
It’s easy to get stuck thinking about all the content you should’ve created.
Or the content you should be creating but can’t.
But we often can’t change that.
So, instead, focus on the content you can create. Focus on getting 3-4 quality posts out this week. That’s it.
When you remove the expectation that you should be doing certain things a certain way, it’s amazing what you can unlock.
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👋 The (ring) Light at the End of the Tunnel